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Crystals & Colour

Article by -Trish Kershaw

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Crystals And Colour

Crystals embody pure light energy because they absorb and reflect light rays. As white light passes through a gem, certain wavelengths may be filtered out and those that survive the passage give the stone its colour. The gem embodies the power of the coloured ray it reflects. When light passes through a gem or crystal without interference it is said to be transparent. If a particular wavelength of colour is absorbed, the remaining rays will pass through the stone and give it a certain colour.If only some colours pass through the gem it is said to be translucent or opaque. Opaque stones are impervious to light. These stones will absorb all the colours of the spectrum except for one colour wavelength. This colour will be reflected back, giving the stone its colour. Therefore if all wavelengths are absorbed except green, the stone will appear green. If all the light is absorbed, the stone will appear black.

Sometimes, the interaction of light with a gemstone produces not a single colour but several. Gems such as diamonds have the capacity to separate out the different wavelengths as light passes through them so that all the colours of the rainbow are produced. Other minerals also have this ‘fire’ quality, for instance, the fire opal. These stones should be used on their own for healing as they work on all the body energy stores.

Crystals are classified as minerals, but not all minerals are crystals. Crystals are only those whose atomic structure are regular and form a crystalline pattern. Minerals are inorganic in nature, although we do include organic material such as amber, coral and pearl as part of the mineral kingdom. The mineral families we will be dealing with are macro crystalline quartz, microcrystalline quartz or chalcedony, agates, feldspar, corundum and beryl.

Rock Crystals

When we use the term crystal, we are really referring to clear quartz crystal. It has a balanced structure and piezoelectric properties, making it the perfect stone for healing.

Piezoelectricity is the ability of crystals and certain ceramic materials to generate a voltage in response to applied mechanical stress.Piezoelectricity was discovered by Pierre Curie and the word is derived from the Greek piezein, which means to squeeze or press. The piezoelectric effect is reversible in that piezoelectric crystals, when subjected to an externally applied voltage, can change shape by a small amount. The effect finds useful applications such as the production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalance and ultra fine focusing of optical assemblies.

In most cases, the best crystals to be used for the expansion of awareness are natural, unpolished, colourless quartz. Without quartz we would not have computer, electronic office equipment and many other electronic devices. Crystals can be described as living computers: they absorb, store and send out energy.

Crystals are members of the quartz family. Their structure is made up of one atom of silicon to two oxygen atoms. These combine to form silicon dioxide. The quartz group of minerals goes to make up about twelve per cent of the earth’s crust. We can divide the quartz family into three main groups.

1. Macro Crystalline Quartz grows in veins that are partially filled with silica. Under favourable conditions, clear quartz crystal, smoky or amethyst quartz can grow to several hundred pounds. This group of quartz, with the exception of rose quartz, normally has a six-sided form ending in a termination point. On rare occasions one can find a clear quartz crystal with two termination points, one at each end. This is called a double terminator. A double terminated crystal is a crystal with two naturally faceted (flat surfaces) ends. It is a rarer form of crystal as it forms free-floating in pockets of clay rather than on one side of a stone. They tend to be highly sought after because this type of crystal has very strong healing powers as it can draw in, hold and release energy at both ends.

Macro crystalline quartz can be divided into the following crystal types:

The rock crystal (or mountain crystal) is the highest expression of the mineral kingdom. It is the symbol of radiant white light energy and symbolises perfection with the universal structure of the triangle, spiralling to completion. It is said to 'mirror the soul' and represents the struggle for clarity.

As we learnt at the beginning of this lesson, a crystal is not static. It is growing and changing and interacting with its environment. The shape of the crystal is based on the triangle. The triangle represents the universal building block from which all geometric forms are derived. The quartz crystal forms a tetrahedron, an equilateral triangle with three sides, the base and all angles each measuring 60 degrees. A crystal grows by the tetrahedron formation repeating itself in an open left or right spiral within the body of the crystal.

Just as the earth's magnetism makes water spiral down a plughole in a certain direction, it also affects the direction of a crystal's growth. Rotary polarization is an optical phenomenon occurring in certain crystalline materials. The vibrational direction of light passing through such a crystal (or sometimes liquids) is rotated so that it varies in a circular manner. A clockwise spiral of growth is found in the northern hemisphere. It is known as a right-handed crystal (dextrorotary) and embodies masculine energy. An anticlockwise or left-handed crystal (levorotary) is found in the southern hemisphere and embodies feminine energy.

To identify whether a crystal is left or right-handed, hold it with the largest face of the termination point facing you. If there is a small facet to the left of this, then it is left-handed or if the smallest facet is on the right, it is right-handed. Some crystals are easier to identify than others – as it is useful to know whether a crystal has masculine or feminine energy, look at a few different ones to determine which way it grows.

The apex of a natural rock crystal is six-sided and represents the forces of the trinity, doubled. The more pointed the apex, the more perfect its healing power.

The rock crystal has such strong healing powers because it:

a) is a natural conductor of electro-magnetic energy;

b) is both a receiver and ultra-sonic transmitter;

c) amplifies the purity of the white light beam;

d) balances and harmonises the aura;

e) emits a force field of light and offers sonic protection against negativity;

f) when laid on the body, crystal quartz de-crystallizes knots in muscles which blocks the flow of energy.

Energy is drawn into the body of the crystal and passes through it and out of its termination point or points. In order to release its energy a crystal needs to be stimulated by body heat, direct sunlight, contact with other crystals, some metals and programmed mind thoughts.

2. We now go on to another quartz group called Chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz. Here the silica forms compact masses of tiny crystals, which are dull and glassy in appearance. Generally, this type of quartz is found near the surface of the earth, where temperatures and pressures are relatively lower.

This group includes the following:

i) Aventurine: quartz coloured with iridescent green mica;

ii) Chalcedony: white, blue or grey;

iii)Chrysoprase: opaque apple green;

iv)Bloodstone: opaque dark green with spots of red jasper also called heliotrope;

3.The last quartz group is the agates. Most agates occur as nodules in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas where they represent cavities originally produced by the disengagement of volatiles in the molten mass which were then filled, wholly or partially, by siliceous matter deposited in regular layers upon the walls. Such agates, when cut transversely, exhibit a succession of parallel lines, giving a banded appearance to the section. Such stones are known as banded agate, riband agate and striped agate.

In many traditions, agate is believed to cure the stings ofscorpions and the bites of snakes, soothe the mind, prevent contagion, still thunder and lightening, promote eloquence, secure the favour of the powerful, and bring victory over enemies.

There are many forms of agate including:

i) Blue Lace Agate: light blue and white layers;

ii)Fire Agate: various shades of brown layers;

iii)Moss Agate: includes mineralsof a green colour, forming filaments and other patterns suggestive of moss;

iv)Carnelian agate: usually exhibiting reddish hues

Extract taken from our professional Crystal Therapy Diploma course

http://www.onlinehomestudies.com/

by Luna Holistics/school of life studies/studyholistics

3 May 2012

Last Update: 7 May 2012

Article/Information supplied by -Trish Kershaw

Disclaimer - Any general advice given in any article should not be relied upon and should not be taken as a substitute for visiting a qualified medical Doctor.